Friday Inspiration – The Panopticon In Pennine, Lancashire

Have you ever been out in the world and stumbled across a large sculpture? Maybe in a field or in a large urban park or beside a highway you were driving along? I have, and each time my heart skips a beat. Especially when it’s an art piece that speaks to me in some way. I remember seeing “Cloud Gate” by Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park, Chicago. I just stopped, as I’m sure most people do. It was so different and interesting and in a place I didn’t expect.

I can only imagine that stumbling across these next four pieces would give me the same feeling.

The projects aim was to build landmarks at four gateways across the countryside in Lancashire, England to attract visitors to enjoy the stunning landscapes and other attractions the area has to offer. Each of the four sculptures are unique and I could write an entire post for each but I think I’ll wait to do that in hopes that someday I’ll actually take a trip to the UK and see them for myself.

I couldn’t find artist statements for each one but I’ll keep digging and post an update if I do. For now, here are the four pieces and a little bit about each one.

This is based on the evolution of an atom. “From inside, it’s circular viewing spaces frame spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, and an initially hidden, polished steel ball reflects back those views to the visitor”. (Source: VisitLancashire.com)

Colourfields by Jo Rippon Architecture with artist Sophie Smallhorn

This piece “draws on a shared passion for the sculptural potential of pure colour in the landscape.” (source: publicartonline.org.uk)

Halo by John Kennedy, Landlab.

“‘Halo’ is a 25m-diameter, circular steel structure, raised off the ground on a tripod, housing a solar array, self-powered cameras and lighting. The structure is clad in white photo-reflective material to ensure that it can be seen from miles around. Its simple, symmetrical shape ensures its legibility from long distances and from any viewpoint. Its reflective coating and lighting ensures that the structure is visible against any background, including surrounding hills, different weather conditions and at night. The structure has a hole in its centre to frame views of the sky.” (source: publicartonline.org.uk)

Singing Ringing Tree by Tonkin Liu

A wind powered sound sculpture overlooking Burnley in Lancashire, England. It’s 3 meters tall and constructed of galvanised steel pipes which produce a sound over several octaves that can be heard at close range. Some pipes are purely structural while other pipes have been cut to allow the wind to create sound.

I’m Laura

Inspiration is what I thrive on.

I'm inspired by art, food, the written word.
By my children, my husband and the world around me.

I think that we're all here to contribute to one another with our ideas, our style and even our mundane, day to day ways of being. Sometimes I find inspiration from things that seem completely ordinary, but it's when you allow yourself to see the ordinary things in a new way that inspiration has a chance to spark and burn alive through each one of us.

I hope you enjoy your time here, and if you do, I would love to hear from you either in a comment or a personal note.